AKA Cast Members of 'Sorority Sisters' Suspended Until 2016

According to the organization's website, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has suspended Sorority Sisters cast member April McRae and Rwanda "Joy" Hammond who has been featured on the series.

In an earlier interview, the women all agreed that they would be devastated if they were suspended. April also said that before the show aired she believed she took the necessary precautions, by speaking to corporate, in order to make sure that the organization's name was not "defamed" and that they knew she wasn't trying to exploit them for "financial gain."


It seems, though, that the sorority sister's involvement with the show has taken a turn for the worst because according to April, all of the women have received death threats.



April says: "I read a message from a woman that said, 'Being on the show, you committed suicide. I should help you do it' or something like that. I've had people come to my building. Thankfully, I live in a high-rise with security. It's been a challenge to go on social media and see threats and comments and derogatory things about me. Some of the people that say they are [black] Greeks. Most are not. But those that are in black Greek-letter organizations should hold themselves to the same standard they hold us to. There's a lot of hypocrisy going on."

While the death threats must stop, it goes without saying that the show's existence upsets a lot of people--especially black women and those who've pledged sororities. People are upset that shows that don't work to uplift the black community and black women keep being funded and that the world flocks to see black women fight and hate each other, instead of highlighting the times when black women don't. The general public rarely gets to see the power in black women's positive and healthy relationships and they rarely get to see that our sister bonds are why we excel.

It is exhausting to be so exhausted at how TV insists on perpetuating stereotypical tropes that have aided in the neglect, dehumanization, and death of black women and girls. One can only wonder then, that even if the rumor is true would it make a difference in the show's overall theme and the actions of the cast members?

We're not so sure..

The national website for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has listed April R. McRae and Rwanda Hammond as suspended from the Sorority. The suspension start date is listed as 12/26/2014 and will end on 07/15/2016. Suspended members will not be allowed to wear sorority paraphernalia or attend official sorority events during this time period.


Photo: newsone.com

Randie Henderson is a Gates Millennium Scholar and recent college grad. She is driven to write, read, learn, and educate about ways to dismantle oppression in America and globally because she is passionate about people and justice. You can find her on randiejourney.tumblr.com